MILCOM Founders Podcast -- Episode 15: From Air National Guard to Firearm Safety Innovation with Shaun Tanaka

Join host Rod Loges and guest Shaun Tanaka as he shares his journey from serving in the Air National Guard to founding CastleLock™, a firearm safety company developing biometric technology to protect families while maintaining quick access for responsible gun owners.

In this episode:

• Shaun's path from Los Angeles public schools to Cal Poly to Air National Guard service
• His Eagle Scout project honoring his grandfather's legacy in the Japanese American community
• Overcoming rejection and learning to "collect 10 nos" as a growth exercise
• The personal tragedy that motivated him to become an entrepreneur and inventor
• Building CastleLock™ with co-founder Matt Phillips, a 12-year Special Forces veteran
• Earning four patents and securing 1,000 pre-sales in one month through customer validation

Key takeaways:

• "If you want feel better, blame other people, but if you want to get better, blame yourself"
• Being a "learn-it-all" rather than a "know-it-all" accelerates growth
• Military teamwork principles translate directly to successful co-founding partnerships
• Successful inventions solve problems customers actively seek solutions for
• Reframe nervousness as excitement when presenting your life's work
• Dreams don't die, they just get buried alive - so start before it's too late

Guest: Shaun Tanaka, Founder and CEO of CastleLock™, Air National Guard Airman First Class (current service)

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauntanaka/
• Business Website: https://castlelock.us/

Shaun Tanaka is an Air National Guard member serving as a Command and Control Operations Specialist while building CastleLock™, a firearm safety company focused on biometric technology. After losing a childhood friend to firearm violence during his sophomore year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Shaun committed himself to developing safety solutions that don't compromise accessibility for responsible gun owners.

An Eagle Scout who honored his grandfather's legacy through community service, Shaun co-founded CastleLock™ with Green Beret veteran Matt Phillips. Together, they've developed patented biometric safety devices that have achieved significant market validation, including 1,000 pre-sales in their first month of outreach to local gun stores.

Shaun also volunteers with the Civil Air Patrol, mentoring youth interested in Air Force careers and leadership development, continuing his commitment to service both in and out of uniform.

Looking ahead: Shaun aims to launch CastleLock's™ flagship product and earn customers' trust by creating firearm safety devices so effective that not buying one would leave families less safe.

The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/